Electrical apparatus



1637.262 1927' J. c. MARSHALL ELECTRICAL APPARATUS Filed Jan. 2, 1926 tweets-Shoot 1 INVENTOR.

J. C. ITIHRSHHLL 2671927 J. c. MARSHALL ELECTRICAL APPARATUS Filed Jan. 2. '1926 2 sheets-sheet 2 INVENTOR.

J. C. ITIHRSHHLL BY a TTORNEY Patented July 26, 1927.

JOHN C. MARSHALL, or SAN FRANCISCO, cALIroRNIA.

ELECTRICAL ArrARATus.

Application filed January 2, 1926. Serial No. 79,002.

This invention relates to improvements in electrical apparatus, and has particular reference to means for making an electrical connection to an electrical circuit.

The principal object of this invention is to rovide a device which will lit any standard Ibrm of plug commonly found in industrial plants on wharves and the like places.

Another object is to provide a device of this character which may be also connected to the live wires or to the switch arms of an electric circuit.

A further object is to provide a device of this character which will eliminate the fire hazard commonly present when makeshift devices are employed.

A still further object is to produce a de vice wherein the contact means will be maintained at a relatively parallel position, irrespective of the position of the carrying element.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts, throughout the same-- Figure I is a front elevation of my device,

Figure II is a side elevation of Figure I, partly broken away, i

Figure III shows my device in closed position, 7

Figure IV is a side elevation showmg the means for connecting my device to a line wire,

Figure V is a side elevation of Figure IV, and

Figure VI illustrates the manner of engaging a switch having its terminals in close proximity to each other.

Figure VII is a detail view of one of the extension clips.

In industrial plants, it is common to employ heavy currents with the result that heavy plugs and sockets are necessary. These plugs and sockets vary 111 size with the result that one plug will not fit all of the sockets. This is particularly true along the wharves iu the various cities. Ships in tying up at the wharves often plug into the wharf socket .in order to furnish light for the ship while the engines are shut down.

It often occurs that the plug on the ships cable will not fit the socket, then the electrician will constguct a makeshift plug, or even scrape a place on the line wire and making abare wire connection. This results in a fire hazard which is extremely dangerous to the wharf property.

I have therefore devised a plug which is so constructed that it will be capable of being used in any sized socket.

In the accompanying drawings wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of my invention, the

numerals 5 and 6 refer to handles formed of an insulating material. The handle 5 is supported in a retainer 7, While the handle 6 is supported in a retainer 8. These retainers are pivoted together by a bolt 9 so as to form a hingedjoint between the handles.

At 11, I have shown a spring member having a coil 12, which spring member engages each of the handles 5 and 6 as shown at 13 and 14, respectively. At 16 I have shown a socket from which wires 17 and 18 pass. The wire 17 is led through the handle5 and is connected to a terminal member 19; The wire 18 is led through the handle 6 and is connected to a terminal member 21.

Hingedly supported upon the terminal member 19 is a contact'member 22 which is normally held away from the terminal meIn ber 19 as by a spring 23.

It will be noted that this contact member 22 has an eye 24 formed thereon. The terminal member 21 has a contact member 26 pivoted thereto, which contact member is normally held away from the terminal member as by a spring 27 and it will'be noted that this contact member also has an eye formed 011 the end thereof as shown at 28. The purpose of the eyes 24 and 28 is best illustrated in Figures IV, V and VI.

In Figures IV and V, it will be noted that a bent wire 29 has one end passing through the eye 24 and has its opposite end provided with a return bend 31. A pivoted tip 32 prevents the wire 29 from being accidentally withdrawn from the eye 24. \Vhen one of these wires is employed in each of the eyes 24 and 28 the device may be hooked over a power line or attached to the switch terminal.

By now referring to Figure VI, it-will be noted that the handles 5 and 6 have approached each other to a point where the contact members 22 and 26 are no longer parallel and are therefore not entering a smaller socket. clips 33 and 34 which. have a portion 50 I have provided extension,

adapted to lie parallel with the contact members 22 and 26 and which have a portion 51 forming a pintle adapted to engage the eyes 24and28.

A finger as shown at 36 formed integral with the clip 33 extends over and engages the terminal men1ber 19, in such a manner as to prevent the spring 23 from functioning. s

These. clips 33 and 34 havean extension as shown at 37 and 38 which are adapted to lie parallel to each other thuspermitting the same to, enter a relatively small socket illustratednt 39 and having contacts 41 and 42 mounted therein. 4

Thelmanner of employing my device is as i follows L a Assuming that the device is in the position; shown in,Figure I theoperator grasps the handles 5and 6 and inserts the terminal membersl!) and 21 into the socket 43 with the result that the 'contact members 22 and 26 will engage the contacts and 46 0f the socket. -Current will be led through the wires 17 andlS to the socket liiifrom which point the current may be employed cit-her for a test lamp or for connecting to a cable. When a; socket such as shown in Figure III is encountered, the handles 5 and 6 are pressed. toward each other and the terminals 19 and 21 inserted in the socket.

It will here be noted that although the socket is of considerably smaller size than that shown in Figure I, the contact members 22 and 26 are still parallel and therefor form a good contact with the line contacts within the socket, the spring 11 at all times functioning to keep suilicient pressure on the contacts so that they will make a good contacts Itis to be understood that the form of my invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as-a preferred example of the same, and that various changes relative to the size, shape and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention, or the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described my inventioml 1. In an apparatus of the character described, a par r of pivoted handles, a ternnnal' positioned on each of said handles, a contact member pivoted to each of said terminals, a

spring interposed between each of said terminals and said contact members, and means for conducting current from said terminals throu h said handles to a remote point.

2. 11 an apparatus of the character dc JOHN MARSHALL. 

